Bag dispensing, transporting and positioning apparatus



Nov. 29, 1966 F. H. MILLER, JR {@7379 TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONINGAPPARATUS DISPENSING,

Filed Sept. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK H. M|LLER,JR

M fiff ATTQ RNEY Nov. 29, 1966 F. H. MILLER, JR

DISPENSING, TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 19635 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK H. MILLER JRI ZMflfl-Q.

ATTORNEY NOV. 29, 1966 LE JR 3,287,879

DISPENSING, TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1.963s Shee'cs-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

FRANK H. M|LLER,JR

United States Patent 3,287,879 BAG DISPENSING, TRANSPORTING ANDPOSITIONING APPARATUS Frank H. Miiler, J12, Louisville, Ky., assignor toMiller Engineering Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation ofKentucky Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 310,071 7 Claims. (Cl. 53188)This invention relates to a bag dispensing, transporting and positioningdevice. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus fordispensing in one by one fashion bags to be transported to a fillingspout of a filllng machine and positioning same on said spout.

The invention is directed to a class of bags known in the trade as valvebags. Bags of this general classification are disclosed by Contryman inUS. 2,378,285; by Burroughs in US. 2,528,419; and by Lee in Reissue 23,-230. These bags are of the multi-ply paper variety and instead of beingopen at the top are adhesively sealed at one end and along the length ofthe top with the other end of the top remaining open to form a valveopening. In some instances, the unsealed end is tucked in at 90 to thebody of the bag and such bags are termed internal valve bags. In someinternal valve bags a polyethylene tube is sealed onto the tucked inportion at the bottom and to the folded over portion at the top so thatthe pressure of the material being fed into the bag presses against thepolyethylene tube which acts as a check valve, so that when the bag isfilled the contents close the tube thus sealing the bag. In otherinstances, the unsealed portion is not tucked in but remains open in theform of a spout. These bags are referred to as external valve bags andthe unsealed portion is later tucked in and adhesively sealed after thebag is filled. (See, for example, the patent to A. R. Swenson,3,083,780.) In any event, the valve opening occupies the upper corner ofthe bag and it is necessary to properly position the bag for transportto the filling spout so that the valve opening faces the filling spoutand to provide means for fitting the spout into the opening.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a method andmeans whereby bags of this type may be automatically dispensed,transported and positioned onto a filling spout.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby bagsof this nature may be dispensed in one by one relation from themagazine.

Still another object of this invention is provision of means whereby thebag approaches the filling spout at the proper angle for positioning ofthe valve opening onto the filling spout.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means whereby thevalve opening is opened prior to reaching the filling spout.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from theattached drawings and the detailed description thereof which follows.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the bag dispensing, transporting andpositioning apparatus of this invention.

FIG. la is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 1a-1a of FIG. 1illustrating the construction of the throat members for opening thevalve opening of a bag.

FIG. 1b is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 1b1b of FIG. 1illustrating said throat members.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the magazine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the relation ofthe first suction means and the second suction means at the bag transferposition.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the pneumatic and 3,287,879 PatentedNov. 29, 1966 "ice suction systems as related to the suction means andto the transport power means.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modification of a bagpositioning means utilizing cam tracks and cam followers.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6illustrating the relation of the movable carrier to the cam tracks.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the articulated movable carriage.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bag illustrating its position in themagazine and the relation of the first suction means thereto.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the relation of the firstsuction means to the second suction means and to the bag at the bagtransfer position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the magazine M, as bestillustrated in FIG. 2 comprises front post 1 and rear post 4 which areconnected together by side rails 3. Attached to the front post 1 is aninverted T-shaped front member 2 containing a curved lip 2a at the top.The rear member of the magazine is made up of rear plates 5 containingrollers 6 connected to shafts 7 which engage on side rails 3 and inwhich the plates 5 are connected together by rear transverse rails 8.The side plates 5 contain an eye member 10 towhich cable 11 is attached,which is trained over pulleys 12 and attached to weight 13. Thus, therear member is always being pulled toward front member 2. The side rails3 are spaced apart the length of a bag B so that the bags may be stackedin the magazine with their longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane andtheir minor axis in a vertical plane, with one edge resting on floormember 9. The folded over top portion of the bag is dispensed in themagazine so that it faces the rear. (See FIG. 9.)

Referring now to FIG. 1, the frame of the apparatus Zgtnprises bottombeam 50 and upright beams 41 and Connected to uprights 41 and 42 is adiagonal brace 43 running to and attached to transverse beam 44 at thetop. Connected also to transverse beam 44 is topmost beam 45 which isconnected in turn to an angular extending beam 46 at the top of upright41. Another diagonal beam 47 is connected to upright 41 and to beam 46to support the latter. An angle iron 14, disposed so that its vertexextends upwardly, is connected across base beams 50. Welded to saidangle arm is double action air cylinder 15 containing piston rod 16 andair connections 17 and 18. The piston rod 16 is connected by clevisbracket 19 to arm 21 by means of clevis pin 20. Arm 21 is pivoted onshaft 23 which is journaled in upright support 22 by bushing 24. At thefar end of the arm 21 is a double action cylinder 25 containing airconnections 26 and 27 and piston rod 28. The piston rod is connected tosuction manifold 29 which in turn is connected to suction line 30 andcontains a series of suction cups 31. The large sprocket 33 is keyedonto the shaft 23 so as to be revolved by the extension or retraction ofpiston rod 16 of drive cylinder 15. Chain 34 is trained over sprocket 35which in turn is connected to large sprocket 36 by shaft 38 journaled inpillow block 37. Cooperating with the large sprocket 36 is idlersprocket 39 over which chain 40 is trained. The chain 40 is trained overtension sprocket 52 which is journaled in vertical sprocket 51 attachedto beam 46 of the upper frame of the machine. Support 51 contains a slot(not shown) for adjusting the tension on the chain or for replacing thechain. Sprocket 52 is mounted on shaft 53 journaled in support 51.Members 54 form a housing for the chain 40 which is connected tocarriage 55 in a conventional trolley connection. Carriage 55 containssuction manifold 56 which is connected to suction line 57 and containssuction cups 58.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. la and 1b, the throat members 60 and 61are elongated V-shaped members having the vertex of the V disposedlaterally to the movable carriage. It will be noted that the vertex 62and 63 of members 60 and 61, respectively, define a smaller angle alonglines 1a-1a than is apparent at lines 1b1b. Thus, as the top of the bagis transported through the throat members, the lateral edges of thefolded top are pressed inwardly to open the valve opening VO asillustrated in FIG. lb. Thus, the valve opening is opened prior toreaching the spout S and is easily positioned thereon.

In another modification, the bag positioning means makes use of amtracks 70 and 71 and cam follower rollers 87 and 88 connected to anarticulated movable carriage 75. For purposes of illustration, FIG. hasbeen divided into three zones corresponding to the length of the uppercam track 70 and the lower cam track 71. It will be noted that in thefirst zone 72 that the cam tracks lie in horizontal parallel relationwith the roller 87 engaging in the cam track 71 and the roller 88engaging in the cam track 70. As the carriage moves along into thesecond zone 73 the lower cam track 71 is inclined at a downward angle ofabout 28 so that roller 87 follows the downward angle until the camtrack hits a horizontal plane. The carriage, connected to chain 40 bytrolley arms 76 and 77 comprising top plate 78, a fixed angular portion79 in the rear and containing hinged pivots 83, 84, and 85, thus allowshinged members 82 and 86 to open, thus disposing the entire carrier atan angle. At the end of the second zone 73 cam track 70 is inclinedsharply at an angle and roller 88 following this angle causes thearticulated rear portion 81 to pivot on hinged pivot 80 and thus bringthe entire carriage into a horizontal plane. In this manner, the bag isdisposed at an angle so that the spout S hits the top portion of thevalve opening and is inserted therein so that when the rear cam follower8S enters zone 3 the bag is sharply brought into horizontal position andplaced over the spout.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the air supply to fluid motor is by lines 17and 18 controlled by valves 91 and 92, respectively. Cylinder 25 iscontrolled by valves 93 and 94 located in lines 27 and 26, respectively.Suction line 30 is controlled by valve 95 located between the suctionpump and suction manifold 29. Suction line 57 connected to suctionmanifold 56 is controlled by valve 96.

Operation When valve 91 is opened piston rod 16 is extended to lower arm21 to its initial horizontal position in proximity to the magazine M. Inthis position, valve 94 is opened to extend piston rod 23 and suctionvalve 95 is opened to apply suction to suction cups 31. Thus,

suction cups 31 grip the top of the body of bag B near the valve end.(See FIG. 9.) Valve 91 is closed and valve 92 is opened to retractpiston rod 16 causing arm 21 to rise through an arc of about 90, thusremoving the bag over the curved lip 2a of the front member 2 of themagazine. Sprocket 33 keyed onto shaft 23 is revolved one quarter of arevolution driving sprocket 35 via chain 34 which in turn drivessprocket 36 and chain 40 trained over idler sprocket 39 to move carrier55 away from the spout along the tramway to bag transfer position T.

Simultaneously with the opening of valve 92, valve 93 is opened toretract piston rod 28 so that the suction manifold 29 is brought downand out of the way for the arrival of carriage 55. Valve 94 is thenopened and valve 93 closed so that the suction cups 31 -con taining thebag which is now disposed with its longitudinal axis directed verticallyand with the valve openings facing the spout, are raised by extension ofpiston rod 28 so that the top of the bag contacts the suction cups 58 onsuction manifold 56 of the carriage 55.

Valve 96 is opened and valve 95 is closed so that the suction cups 58 ofcarriage 56 engage the top of the bag. Valve 93 is opened and valve 94closed so as to retract the suction manifold 29 via retraction of pistonrod 28 and valve 91 is opened and valve 92 closed so as to extend pistonrod 16 to lower the arm 21 to its initial horizontal position and torevolve sprocket 33 one quarter of a revolution to drive chain 40through the power train of sprockets and chains 34, 35, 36, 39 and 40previously described to drive the carriage 55 along the tramway towardthe spout S.

The various valves may be opened and closed manually or through a seriesof controls arranged to open and close same in the sequence set forth.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thedetailed description of the invention which is meant to be exemplary innature and nonlimiting except as to be commensurate with the scope ofthe claims attached hereto.

I claim:

1. A device for singly dispensing and transporting paper bags from agroup and positioning same onto a spout of a filling machine, whereineach bag is fabricated of multiple plies of paper sealed at one end andalong the length of the top, with the other end of the top unsealed toform a valve opening, which comprises:

(a) a bag holding means, including (i) an open top magazine including aframe containing side members, a front member, a rear member, and meansfor urging said bags into position towards said front member;

(ii) said side members being spaced apart the length of a bag so as toaccommodate a group of bags wherein each bag is positioned with itsmajor axis disposed horizontally and its minor axis disposed verticallywith the top of said bag folded over so as to face the rear member;

(b) a first gripping means, including means for gripping the bag in themagazine near the valve end of the body portion thereof in its initialposition, wherein its major axis is disposed horizontally, and forholding same until after it is in a bag transfer position outside of themagazine in which position its major axis is disposed vertically;

(c) a second gripping means for gripping the top of said bag in the bagtransfer position and for holding same until after it is in position onthe filling spout;

(d) a first transport means operatively connected to said first grippingmeans for movement from an initial horizontal position to a bag transferposition and back to said horizontal position;

(e) a second transport means operatively connected to said secondgripping means for movement from an initial position in proximity tosaid filling spout to a bag transfer position and back to said initialposition;

(f) synchronizing means wherein the location of said first transportmeans is synchronized with the location of said second transport meansso that when said first transport means is disposed in its initialhorizontal position in proximity to said magazine, said second transportmeans is disposed in its initial position in proximity to the fillingspout, and when said first transport means is in its bag transferposition, it is disposed directly below said second transport means inits bag transfer position;

(g) means for positioning the valve opening of said bag onto a fillingspout; and

(h) power means for driving said transport means.

2. A dispensing and transporting device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid first and second means utilize suction cups for gripping the bag,the further improvement of (a) valve means for supplying and releasingsuction for said first and second suction means, in which (i) suction isapplied to said first suction means when the bag is in its initialposition and is released after the bag is in its bag transfer position;

(ii) suction is applied to said second suction means when the bag is inits bag transfer position and is released after the bag is in positionon the filling spout.

3. A dispensing and transporting device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid first transport means consists of an arm pivotably mounted formovement from an initial horizontal position through an arc ofapproximately 90 to a bag transfer position and back to said initialhorizontal position.

4. A dispensing and transporting device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid synchronizing means includes a first sprocket, a second sprocketand a first chain trained over said first and second sprockets, a thirdsprocket, a fourth sprocket and a chain trained over said third andfourth sprockets in which said first sprocket is driven through apre-determined arc in one direction by said power means and through apre-determined arc in another direction by said power means and saidthird sprocket is driven by the revolution of said second sprocket tomove said carriage in synchronism with the movement of said arm.

5. In an automatic bag positioning apparatus wherein a multi-ply bagcontaining a valve opening in the top corner thereof is picked up andpositioned onto a filling spout of a bag filling apparatus,

(a) that improvement which comprises (i) an articulated movable carrier,a tramway and gripping means associated with said carrier wherein a bagis gripped at the top and moved along said tramway to said spout;

(b) means for positioning said bag onto said spout comprising (i) a pairof cam tracks running the length of said tramway in three zones;

(ii) the cam tracks running in parallel relation throughout the firstand last zones;

(iii) the lower cam track inclining downwardly at an angle throughoutthe first portion of the second zone and then running horizontally;

(iv) the upper cam track running horizontally throughout the firstportion of the second zone and then inclining downwardly to terminate ina horizontal plane entering the third zone;

(v) cam followers connected to the front and rear of said articulatedcarriage and running in said lower and upper cam tracks, respectively,wherein said carriage is disposed at an angle and thereby holds the bagat an angle in the second zone of said tramway when the tip of the spouthits the valve opening for easy positioning thereon and thereafter the.top of the bag is brought sharply into a horizontal plane and therebyis placed over the spout as the rear cam follower follows the upper camtrack downwardly and then enters into a horizontal position in the lastzone.

6. In an automatic bag positioning apparatus wherein a multi-ply bagcontaining a valve opening in the top corner thereof is picked up andpositioned onto a filling spout of a bag filling apparatus (a) thatimprovement which comprises (i) a movable carrier, a tramway andgripping means associated with said carrier wherein a bag is gripped atthe top and moved along said tramway in a horizontal plane to saidspout;

(ii) means for opening said valve opening prior to reaching said spoutfor easy positioning thereon which includes (a) a throat memberconsisting of two elongated V-shaped members in which each of saidmembers is located on either side of the tramway with the vertex of theV facing away from said tramway and in which the angle of the vertexprogressively increases along the length of said members so that thefolded top of the bag is gradually pushed on its lateral surfacesinwardly to open the valve opening.

7. An automatic bag positioning apparatus for use in picking up andpositioning a valve bag onto a spout of a bag filling machine,

(1) that improvement which comprises an articulated movable carnerhaving a cam, gripping means associated with said carrier and a tramwayin operative relation with said carrier wherein a bag is gripped at thetop and moved along said tramway to said spout;

(2) means for positioning said bag onto said spout comprising,

(a) a cam track operatively associated with said cam of said articulatedmovable carrier and lo cated in proximity and in axial alignment withsaid tramway which in cooperation with said cam partially opens saidarticulated carrier to dispose the carrier and the bag carried therebyat an angle for advantageous positioning onto said spout.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,191 7/1954Dolman 53-188 3,053,027 9/1962 Frost 53190 3,213,588 10/1965 Peterson53-188 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR SINGLY DISPENSING AND TRANSPORTING PAPER BAGS FROM AGROUP AND POSITIONING SAME ONTO A SPOUT OF A FILLING MACHINE, WHEREINEACH BAG IS FABRICATED OF MULTIPLE PLIES OF PAPER SEALED AT ONE END ANDALONG THE LENGTH OF THE TOP, WITH THE OTHER END OF THE TOP UNSEALED TOFORM A VALVE OPENING, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A BAG HOLDING MEANS,INCLUDING (I) AN OPEN TOP MAGAZINE INCLUDING A FRAME CONTAINING SIDEMEMBERS, A FRONT MEMBER, A REAR MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR URGING SAID BAGSINTO POSITION TOWARDS SAID FRONT MEMBER; (II) SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEINGSPACED APART THE LENGTH OF A BAG SO AS TO ACCOMMODATE A GROUP OF BAGSWHEREIN EACH BAG IS POSITIONED WITH ITS MAJOR AXIS DISPOSED HORIZONTALLYAND ITS MINOR AXIS DISPOSED VERTICALLY WITH THE TOP OF SAID BAG FOLDEDOVER SO AS TO FACE THE REAR MEMBER; A FIRST GRIPPING MEANS, INCLUDINGMEANS FOR GRIPPING THE BAG IN THE MAGAZINE NEAR THE VALVE END OF THEBODY PORTION THEREOF IN ITS INITIAL POSITION, WHEREIN ITS MAJOR AXIS ISDISPOSED HORIZONTALLY, AND FOR HOLDING SAME UNTIL AFTER IT IS IN A BAGTRANSFER POSITION OUTSIDE OF THE MAGAZINE IN WHICH PORTION ITS MAJORAXIS IS DISPOSED VERTICALLY; (C) A SECOND GRIPPING MEANS FOR GRIPPINGTHE TOP OF SAID BAG IN THE BAG TRANSFER POSITION AND FOR HOLDING SAMEUNTIL AFTER IT IS IN POSITION ON THE FILLING SPOUT(D) A FIRST TRANSPORTMEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST GRIPPING MEANS FOR MOVEMENTFROM AN INITIAL HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A BAG TRANSFER POSITION AND BACKTO SAID HORIZONTAL POSITION; (E) A SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO SAID SECOND GRIPPING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN INITIALPOSITION IN PROXIMITY TO SAID FILLING SPOUT TO A BAG TRANSFER POSITIONAND BACK TO SAID INITIAL POSITION; (F) SYNCHRONIZING MEANS WHEREIN THELOCATION OF SAID FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS IS SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE LOCATIONOF SAID SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS SO THAT WHEN SAID FIRST TRANSPORT MEANSIS DISPOSED IN ITS INITIAL HORIZONTAL POSITION IN PROXIMITY TO SAIDMAGAZINE, SAID SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS IS DISPOSED IN ITS INITIALPOSITION IN PROXIMITY TO THE FILLING SPOUT, AND WHEN SAID FIRSTTRANSPORT MEANS IS IN ITS BAG TRANSFER POSITION, IT IS DISPOSED DIRECTLYBELOW SAID SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS IN ITS BAG TRANSFER POSITION; (G)MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE VALVE OPENING OF SAID BAG ONTO A FILLINGSPOUT; AND (H) POWER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID TRANSPORT MEANS.